Formula Feeders:Help Me Understand?

Question

Now, this isn't a set up. I am a SAHM to a 7 month old boy whom I breastfeed. Formula feeding was never a consideration for me, and thankfully was not something I was forced to do(lack of supply, medication etc), but as the months have gone by and a number of formula-bashing questions and comments have been read on this site it got me curious about those of you who formula feed your babies. I am a firm believer that it is hard to knock something/someone once you truly understand them. So, that is what I hope to do with this question.

How long does it take to prepare?

How much does it cost every month?

How many different types did you have to try before finding one that worked for your baby?

Do you find it hard to go back to sleep at night after a feeding?

Does your husband get up at night to feed baby?

Do you try to get your baby to finish the bottle?

Do you have to throw away unused formula after every feeding?

Anything else you would like to share?

Thank you for your input.

Answer 1

How long does it take to prepare?

About 1 min

How much does it cost every month?

Approx $50

How many different types did you have to try before finding one that worked for your baby?

First one worked.

Do you find it hard to go back to sleep at night after a feeding?

No harder than when i was breastfeeding.

Does your husband get up at night to feed baby?

No, he gets up at 5am for work.

Do you try to get your baby to finish the bottle?

She stops when shes had enough, same as it was when BFing.

Do you have to throw away unused formula after every feeding?

Yes

Anything else you would like to share?

Washing and sterilizing the bottles is what takes the time. I much preferred BFing, but unfortunately that wasn't to be.

Answer 2

My son is tongue-tied, so it was a real issue for him to latch on. So we decided we were going to formula feed.

Formula only takes a minute or two to fix. We bought just the normal store brand so we only spent about 20-30 a month on it and he was on Soy formula.

Our son was a really good sleeper, he would wake up, either hubby or I would get it ready and once he was done, he was out. As for unused formula, its the same as breastmilk pretty much. If the baby doesn't finish it just pop it in the fridge, and it will still be good for several hours, up to 24-48 depending on the container it is stored in.

Answer 3

that is a good point.  many women look at this as if " i bottle/breast feed my child and so should you." wrong!!

i did both for all three of my kids, my two boys i actually took off because i had to go to work or school and i have to say breast is easier and faster! its always ready, you dont have stinky milk laying around in a bottle if it gets lost and tons of other pros.

1. preparing formula doesnt really take that long bottle by bottle, but in the middle of the night its easier to pull your baby close and walah, your baby is feeding

2.formula feeding is expensive! buying nursing pads is alot cheaper.

3.i went thru 3 kids with my eldest son, 2 with my daughter, and only 1 with my baby (got lucky!)

4. sometimes i couldnt get back to sleep so easily after getting up to fix a bottle, i cant have it premade cuz its only good for a couple hours, and it takes longer to warm it up than it is to just fix it.

5.when i was married, my husband never got up to fix a bottle. we both worked, but i was the only one losing sleep.

6.no, they only drank what they wanted

7.yes, not right away, i would wait no longer than an hour andthen throw it out, but wouldn't you know, my baby boy always woke up like 5 minutes later!

Answer 4

I formula feed.  I breastfed for the first couple of weeks but my daughters pedi wanted me to supplement with formula b/c she had jaundice. long story short, I stuck with formula.

How long does it take to prepare? 3 mins max

How much does it cost every month? $22-$30

How many different types did you have to try before finding one that worked for your baby? 2, first one worked, switched to a cheaper store band equilivant

Do you find it hard to go back to sleep at night after a feeding? Shes always been a very good sleeper. When she did wake for a bottle we were co sleeping at the time and I did not have any trouble getting back to sleep

Does your husband get up at night to feed baby? Im a single mother, no.

Do you try to get your baby to finish the bottle? No, she stops when she's full.  Usually she will leave an oz or 2 in the bottle

Do you have to throw away unused formula after every feeding? Every feeding, no.  sometimes.  If theres more than 2oz, then I will save it in the fridge and feed it to her at the next feeding (no prep time!)

Anything else you would like to share? These are questions that aren't well rounded.  First, you assume theres a husband involved.  Im a single mother.  What if I were g*y?  You seem to be on a one track frame of thought.  Also, youre not asking any questions about the pro's.  Formula feeding is a good option for career women who dont always have time to pump at work.  Also, for people who are body conscious, breastfeeding isn't always the most comfortable option.  There were a few nights when I went out for drinks with friends, and didnt have to fear affecting my child with my milk.  Im not saying that women should choose drinking over feeding their child, but this is an option should a women chose to have a girls night out with alcohol involved.  I dont mind breastfeeding, i did it for a while.  However you should remember to ask questions from all sides, not just from that of an inquisitive breastfeeding mum. Good for you though, for trying to take an informed stance of the situation  

Answer 5

Hmm, not sure how this will help you understand us "formula feeders" (like we're a different breed or something, lol!  Remember, we're all moms just doing what's right for our own kids).  But here it goes:

5 Seconds to pour water into the bottle and 10 seconds to put the formula in and shake it (no heating, my daughter drinks it at room temp)

$100/month (money is not a major concern in our house, fortunately, and this is a small price to pay for peace, happiness and calm in our household. See below)

2 different types

No (baby has been sleeping through the night since 5.5 months old so this is not an issue)

No - I'm still on maternity leave and he works and when we were doing night feeds I did the feeding

No, she eats what she wants

Sometimes

Background:  I BF until 4 months and it was a complete nightmare from the beginning (I was going to quit at 2 weeks but stuck it out).  As soon as I switched to formula both my baby and I were happier (less crying and frustration on my baby's part and less stress on mine) and she started gaining the weight she was supposed to.

Again, you do what's right for YOUR child.

Hope this helps...

Answer 6

This is a great question because so many people have knocked me for formula feeding.  Let me give you a bit of background information to my decision first.  When my daughter was born she was immediately placed in the NICU because she couldn't breath, I had to stay down in recovery.  When I was able to visit her she was screaming, I asked why and they said because she was hungry but since I wrote on my paper that I was going to exclusively breastfeed they wouldn't  give her formula.  My milk had not come in yet so I decided to breastfeed while supplementing with formula.  I wasn't about to let my baby starve since I couldn't be with her constantly.  I then started to slip into post-partum, she couldn't latch on without a nipple shield, and I couldn't afford the pump because the medical bills were so high, I decided to formula feed after 9.5 weeks.  I had to go back to work and I couldn't do it any other way.

It only takes about 30 seconds to prepare, all you have to do is mix warm water with the formula.  The bottle warmers are a joke and not needed at all.

We probably spend close to if not a little more than $150 a month....now I see why the pump would have been cost effective ;)

We have tried 3 different kinds because our daughter has severe constipation.  Nothing made a difference so we have to give her milk of magnesia concentrate and do the Costco brand of formula (same as enfamil but MUCH cheaper).

My daughter has been sleeping through the night since she was 3 weeks old, so I am not sure about the late night feedings.  Let me tell yah, I think I got VERY lucky.

We take turns with feedings, but typically I do all the feedings, when she is with her daddy she wants to play more than eat.

Right now we have to take 30 second breaksbecause she tends to get distracted by everything but she guzzles the 8 oz down in about 5-7 minutes.

I throw it away only because I forget about anything I put in the fridge, haha.  Rarely do I have any left over, and if I do it isn't enough to be worth saving anyways.

I commend you for breastfeeding for so long.  My daughter is 5 months and now I really wish I had continued, but I have to admit I do love the convience of the formula.  I honestly think if circumstances would have been different in the beggining I would still be nursing but because of the money and being apart so much I didn't have as much of an opportunity.  I tried pumping but the hospital would never feed her the pumped milk after I okayed them to formula supplement.  I agree with you, don't knock something until you know the details.  Not many know the struggles that we suffered in the beginning and my reasons as to why I don't breastfeed but the past judgement quickly on me and my choice.

Answer 7

1. a few minutes, there is no longer a need for boiling water, pediatrician told me to just use tap water at room temp or a little warm

2. depends on kids age. But for me around 50 dollars a month. I used Parent's Choice.

3. I started with enfamil and it worked fine but I switched for money reasons to parent's choice which also worked fine. My son rarely spit up.

4. No. I don't think so anyway. My son is 2 now so I can't really remember.

5. My husband would get up on Friday nights, sometimes Saturdays because he didn't have to go to work the next day, but that was only when my son was very young and I was very tired.

6. My son had no problem finishing his bottle, but if he ever did I didn't mind.

7. I very rarely had to throw away unused formula. My son was on 4 oz bottles for quite a while. If he was still hungry I would make 2 more oz. until he didn't want anymore.

I breastfed my son exclusively for 1 month, then started using formula sometimes. That only lasted a month and by 2 months he was on formula. He never learned the latch on so I had to use a nipple shield. I hated that thing and I swear I will never use one again. I don't feel like I let my son down at all. I was formula fed and do not resent my mom at all for that.

All of that being said I am due in February with number 2 and I plan on breastfeeding this time, hopefully longer than last time. It really is cheaper and a little more convenient but not much.

Answer 8

Your lucky, my son was eating 8 ounces every 2-3 hours from the day he came home from the hospital. I was only able to breastfeed for about a month (i just couldnt produce enough for him... and i know there are going to be some women that say thats not possible... but it is... not only did i have a problem keeping up with his hungry appetite, my best friend had the same issue with all three of her kids)

How long does it take to prepare?

Not even a couple minutes. You add the water, then the right amount of scoops per ounce of water... easy and simple

How much does it cost every month?

Lets see, my son goes through about 2-4 cans a month... so you figure 25.00 on average for a can : 75.00-100.00 total

How many different types did you have to try before finding one that worked for your baby?

My son started out on Enfamil Lipil, but it made him too gassy. So we switched his formula to Similac Advanced, and never had another problem... so 2 different kinds

Do you find it hard to go back to sleep at night after a feeding?

Nope not at all... my baby went to bed with a full tummy

Does your husband/fiance/boyfriend get up at night to feed baby?

Yep, we used to take turns

Do you try to get your baby to finish the bottle?

Shoot, my baby chugged his bottles. he was a hungry baby, and still is even at 9 months old

Do you have to throw away unused formula after every feeding?

Nope, my son always finished his bottles

Answer 9

you know, you can just look up most of this stuff up on the web like most folks.....and why do you care, wanting to change teams? LOL

Answer 10

i bottle fed all my baby's

when they were born it took no time at all as i only had 2 put 4 caps of powder in

my bf did get up and get the bottles but i always Fed and change them

yes i would try every time but i always new when they were full            i got mine rite first time they all had cow and gate infant

no not at all as soon as the wind came they fell back to sleep

u can only keep the warm milk for an hour then it has 2 b thrown away

i all ways made 6 bottles at a time and put them in the fridge this way they stayed fresh for 24 hours  

Answer 11

I had to stop breastfeeding due to a serious medical issue that came up when my daughter was 3 weeks old, it was a very emotional situation for me because I was dead-set on breastfeeding her.

1. It doesn't take too long to prepare for me. I fill the bottles with the desired amount of water in the morning and put them in the fridge (she likes it cold better than warm). I also scoop out the amount of formula and put them in ready-to-pour containers to make it faster for me during the day as well. I just mix, shake, and serve!

2. I'm still in the early stages of formula feeding, been doing it less than a month, but it looks like it will be between 50-75$.

3. I've been lucky, Enfamil Lipil has worked fantastic for my daughter so far. I hope it continues, because all the research on formulas I've done since I've had to stop breastfeeding has made me feel that it's the best for her.

4. I find it difficult to stay awake while burping her. Spit up wasn't an issue when I breast fed, but I have to make sure I get several good burps from her now that I formula feed & it's hard to stay away that extra 20-30 minutes.

5. Nope, my husband is in Afghanistan. However, if he was here I'm sure he would be more than willing to help me!

6. I don't try to force my daughter to eat more then what she wants...that would only cause more spit up!

7. Usually she drains her bottle, around 3oz, but during the day she's been only taking in around 2 - 2 1/2oz at each feeding, so I get rid of a little bit.

Thank you for not assuming that everyone who formula feeds is just selfish/stupid/or whatever else. Emotionally, formula feeding is very difficult on me, I feel extreme guilt that medically I was unable to provide for my child & sometimes the nasty comments made by others only makes it harder.  

Answer 12

How long does it take to prepare? actually not as long as you think, we made up bottles in advance and put them in the fridge, and as long as you used them by the time limit it was easy to grab one warm it up in the bottle warmer about 2 to 3 minutes.

How much does it cost every month? now there is the cost, my daughters went through about 2 cans a month which were 19.99 a can, so 40 a month.

How many different types did you have to try before finding one that worked for your baby? Only had to try the first one and it worked.

Do you find it hard to go back to sleep at night after a feeding? Nope they feel right back to sleep no problem.

Does your husband get up at night to feed baby? Yes my husband and I both took turns.

Do you try to get your baby to finish the bottle? the baby took as much as she wanted, I didn't force it on her.

Do you have to throw away unused formula after every feeding? Normally there wasn't and left over, I got pretty good at figuring out how much she ate at a feeding.

Anything else you would like to share?  It wasn't a personal desicion for me to formula feed over breast feeding.  I had a lot of medical problems that one dried up my milk and two the medication couldn't be changed for me to breastfeed.

Answer 13

1. It takes less than 15 minutes to sterilize, prepare and fill all 8 of my bottles...I make them all at once and have to make new bottles each morning.

2. Currently I'm spending about $150 per month on formula for my 8 week old...he drinks a little over a quart per day (I use ready-to-feed).

3.I tried 2 formulas before settling on Carnation Goodstart.

4. I personally can sleep anytime, anywhere...when the baby sleeps, I sleep.

5. I'm single

6. I don't force it on him...if he's overfed he'll vomit. I try to give him 3 ounces at at time, then if he wants more I add another ounce until he's full.

7.You're supposed to throw away any unused formula left in the bottle because bacteria could be introduced, but I generally don't have to (see answer #6).

I use the Playtex feeding system because my baby is less gassy with it...I used it when my baby breastfed the first month and there was no nipple confusion!

Good luck on your decision!

Answer 14

i have been on both sides of the fence. at 18 i choose to formula feed my son do to lack of education and support.

1. formula doesnt take long to prepare but breastmilk comes ready made.

2. i was on the wic program. it doesnt cover the whole cost of formula.

3.i had to go through several types in order find one that my baby could stomach. i could have avoided that by simply breastfeeding from the start. breast milk is optimal baby food.

4.it was harder to go back to sleep because i had to get up and retrieve a bottle of formula as to where its easier to whip out a breast and nurse a baby in bed.

5.my husband has to work early and needs his rest so he can support his family.

6.my baby would eat his whole bottle most of the time. i think it is easier to overfeed a bottle fed baby.

7.formula spoils faster than pumped breastmilk.

i feel that i robbed my son of his right to have breastmilk. he had earaches and bronchitis for the first few years of his life. i now know that formula has its time and place but breast will always be best.

Answer 15

OK, I have a feeling i know what you are trying to say with this question.  However, i'll play your little game.  I am a stay at home mom.  When I had my first son I tried to breastfeed and he would not take it.  I tried the whole time I was in the hospital and even when we got home but he would not take it.  He would latch on great, suck once then spit it out and scream.  I didn't get any sleep for more than 24 hours and he screamed almost that whole time.  I called my mom because I couldn't handle the crying anymore and when she came over she made him a bottle and gave it to him.  He sucked that thing down faster than anything i have ever seen, then slept AWESOME!!!!  I continued to try breastfeeding (i even tried the nipple drip) which didn't work.  Now my second son, he had some complications during birth and had to be in the NICU for a little over a week.  The dr put him on formula as he was only 4lbs 1oz, he had to gain some weight.  I pumped throughout that time but I was getting VERY little then i started to get multipal hard lumps in my breast and then no milk(even after 45min per side)  so the dr gave my medicine to stop milk and make my breast stop hurting.  Now to answer your questions:

prep: 45sec

cost: $30.00 per week (he's 5 months now)

different types: the first one we bought they both liked

sleep: he eats in about 20 min and we are both back to bed with no problems

husband: my husband works, i stay at home, he does not feed in the middle of the night

finish a bottle: I dont make him but I know about how much he eats and make formula accordingly

unused: you can save it in the fridge for a little while

I know that you are going to find breastfeeding "better" than bottle, but for some people it just works.  Will I only bottle feed all my children???  No, i will try to breastfeed my next but if it doesnt work, we have the bottlefeedig down pat:)

Answer 16

Hiya.  :)  Here's some answers for ya.  I breastfed Johnny for the first 2 months exclusively, but when I returned to work, I had to give him formula during the day because no pump would work on my body (I invested in 4 different pumps and a lactation consultant and nothing happened, so upsetting).  Once I gave him formula, he eventually just started refusing the breast in the evenings (3.5 months).  I was so sad, but I wasn't going to force him to take it, either.  Soooo - here's your answers.

How long does it take to prepare?

It takes me maybe 2 minutes in the morning.  I prepare one shaker full of formula for each day.  Fill up the shaker w/water, add the formula, shake and voila!  :)  When he needs a bottle, I get it out of the fridge, pour it, warm it for about 20 secs (he doesn't like it too warm) and give it to him!

How much does it cost every month?

$18.99/can, 1 can/week.  $75.96  a month plus tax.  (This is where I wish we were still nursing, lol)

How many different types did you have to try before finding one that worked for your baby?

3 - He started w/Enfamil, wouldn't take it after two weeks, then tried Similac Advance and had belly problems and finally settled on Similac Sensitive.  However, we have now switched to Similac Go and Grow, his pediatrician approved it, Johnny likes it and it's cheaper for me (18.99 a can instead of 27.99 a can)

Do you find it hard to go back to sleep at night after a feeding?

No, because he started sleeping thru the night at 4 weeks, and I was still nursing at that point.

Does your husband get up at night to feed baby?

N/A (Single momma here)

Do you try to get your baby to finish the bottle?

Nope, when he's finished, he's finished.

Do you have to throw away unused formula after every feeding?

No, because I only give him 4 oz at first and if he still wants more after that, I fill it up again.  He usually finishes the whole bottle or only leaves about an ounce.

Anything else you would like to share?

Thank you for not being so judgemental in your question.  It really sucks that there's such a controversy regarding how you feed your baby.  Your question didn't make me feel like a terrible mom for formula feeding.  :)

Answer 17

These are good questions.  I also breastfeed and I'm truly clueless when it comes to preparing formula so I'll be interested to see what the answers are.  But one thing I did once before my son was sleeping through the night was I pumped a bottle so Daddy could feed him and I got 8 hours sleep in a row.  Now my son sleeps 10-12 hours a night on his own so I don't have to worry about that anymore.  I'm not very good at pumping either.

Answer 18

i breastfed for the 1st 2 months and i now formula fed our 5 month old~!

about 1 min. to prepare,about 140$ a month unless u have wic,1st one i tried after breastfeeding worked,no its the same as nursing in terms of going back to sleep,yes, occasionally husband gets up,no, i dont try to get her to finish, and i prepare what i know sh'll drink, sometimes some is wasted, not much! whatever works for the individual mother is whats best! my cosuin almost starved her baby being so commited to breastfeeding, and was forced to formula feed!

Answer 19

1.We used powder and every morning I mixed all the bottles I would need for the day.  It took less than 10 minutes total.

2.It was roughly $100 a month for the name-brand formula.  We cut that in half using store brand formula.

3.Only 1.

4.No.

5.Yes.

6.Almost never had too much or too little.  I very closely followed her eating patterns & growth spurts, to keep from being wasteful.

7.You are supposed to throw away the unused formula a hour after the baby stops drinking it.

I don't really know what else to say.  Choosing between breast & bottle was one of the hardest decisions I've ever had to make.  It took the whole 9 months to make a final decision.  I don't regret my decision because that's what was best for everyone(me, baby, & Dad) at the time.  I do plan on pumping & bottle-feeding our next child, whenever that one comes along.

Answer 20

I have had 3 children and all of them have been formula fed. And....all of them are healthy.

It only takes me 1 minute to prepare a bottle.

It costs around $40.00 monthly.

I got free trials of everything and found something that best was best for each child with my pediatrician's help.

It was not difficult for me or the baby to go back to sleep after eating.

My husband does get up to help feeding the baby.

We never made any of our children finish a bottle.

We do throw away any unused formula after each feeding.

I think it's great that you breastfeed. I don't disagree or agree with one side.....what is most important is that mommy and baby are happy and healthy.

Answer 21

Oftentimes I would take ten minutes or so to prepare the bottles for the entire day. I would put them in the fridge and if baby was hungry, I would give him a bottle from the fridge. So only about ten minutes. Some people warm the bottles so it takes longer for them.

With my first, I was a teenager and received WIC. I still had to pay about $50-60 a month for his special formula after WICs supply ran out. Around $60-$70 was spent on my second child's formula, he was older though. I breastfed first with him. He also took in the cheap brands of soy formula quite well.

For my first, The third type of formula worked out well for us. (He couldn't handle milk based or soy based so he had to get a special kind of formula) For my second, the second type of formula worked out (Soy-based)

At first I had a hard time getting back to sleep but as we got a rhythm going, it became easier to take care of the baby and get some sleep. With my second, it id not seem like a problem. Even while i was breastfeeding, my husband got up at night to help with the baby and to feed them.  

No, I never tried to force a certain amount to my children. If they do not finish one bottle, they tended to make up for it later on.

I was told that you can keep it for a few hours after feeding and then to throw it away. Usually within those few hours the babies drank it.

Unfortunately in my situation, I was unable to breastfeed my first child. I tried so hard to make it work but the doctors forced formula on him because of concern for his health. My second's doctor insisted that we begin to supplement with formula after 3 months of age. So, I just wanted to add that it is not always our choice when it comes to formula vs breast feeding.  

Answer 22

I'll try to answer, I bf my lil girl for the first 6 months before we needed to change to formula. I wasn't happy about the switch...so I feel like making bottles, washing bottles, and buying formula is a big pain in the butt to begin with..but aside from that the bottles only take a few seconds to make, we just use warm tap water since shes older then you put the right amount of powder in and shake. As far as cost, I think maybe about 40-50 $ a month if we use store brand from Sam's club. We used Good Start gentle formula at first because she was literally weaned overnight and that formula seemed to be easiest on her tummy, in fact her dirty diapers were very similar to her diapers while breastfeeding. We made the switch to the store brand after a while and she did really well on that, so we stuck with it. I did have a hard time at first with bottle night feedings, I felt like my arm was going to fall off holding the bottle up, but got used to it. She never did hold her own bottle, she prefers to snuggle up and twirl my hair while eating the same way she did when we were nursing. I dont mind that at all, I love the snuggles..but it did take a while to get used to, and making sure she was elevated whereas I was used to doing night feeds lying down. My husband doesn't get up with her at night, by the time he would hear her I would already be awake anyways..but she has always been a pretty good sleeper, teething aside she generally sleeps through the night. When my daughter is full, she stops eating. She is very clear about when she is done...she will push the bottle away and thats when she's had enough.I dont try to get her to eat anymore when she is done..not that she would let me :). If there is more than 2 oz left I do refrigerate it and add it to the next bottle at the next feeding. Its never bothered her. People formula feed for many different reasons, and while I believe that breast is best, my daughter is also thriving on the formula and perfectly healthy. I think as long as a baby is fed and loved that the way they are fed shouldn't be a cause of so much controversy. I am friends with mothers that chose to formula feed from birth for one reason or another and though I prefer to do different I have never looked down on them for their choice and they have never looked down on mine. In fact they were the friends I turned to with my many questions when we started using formula and they were very helpful. Moms should support each other and not tear each other down over something as stupid as the bottle vs breast thing. Because just being a mom can be hard enough! :)

Answer 23

How long does it take to prepare?

less than 1 minute

How much does it cost every month?

$0, I am a SAHM, my husband is in military and they qualified us for a local nutrtion progtam that provides it.

How many different types did you have to try before finding one that worked for your baby?

4, including breast milk

Do you find it hard to go back to sleep at night after a feeding?

Babies didn't wake up to eat after 2 months, before that, no.

Does your husband get up at night to feed baby?

n/a

Do you try to get your baby to finish the bottle?

It takes about 2 days to figure out babies eating patterns, I usually know how much to make, they stop eating when they're full and if they finish the bottle and are still sucking I offer them 2 more oz.

Do you have to throw away unused formula after every feeding?

Not usually but it happens

Anything else you would like to share?

My daughter had jaundice when she was born and I had to start supplementing with formula. Once I did that, I found that formula feeding was easier and sat better on her stomach (she has a milk allergy, I can't produce soy breastmilk).

Also, both babies breastfed for 1 month, daughters first cold was at 8  months and only had one more before her first bday. Son didn't have cold until 13 months. Neither ever had an ear infection, diaper rash, or any other illness. My sister breastfed her kids exclusively for 15 months and 13 months, they both had multiple colds and ear infections by 1st bday, my kids also hit most of they're developmental milestones before hers.

I think both are fine, neither has anything to do with how smart or healthy a child will be and with all of the advances made in formula, I feel "breast is best' is completely overrated. Science has been outdoing nature for years now... i.e. medicine, surgery, vaccines, farming, etc.

Answer 24

How long does it take to prepare? Pour water and add formula and shake = a minute at the most.

Cost per month? Depends on the formula. It used to cost me between $75-100 a month.

Different types? She was only on 2 different formulas in her first year.

Hard to go back to sleep at night? No.

Husband get up? Not husband, but boyfriend did.

Try to get baby to finish bottle? No, I never forced her to eat if she didn't want it.

Throw away unused formula? I did have to, but usually wasn't more than an ounce.

Answer 25

Not sure why it matters? but here goes.

How long does it take to prepare? Less than a minute.After I wash all my bottles,I fill them with water & leave at room temp.That way when I have to make a bottle,I add powder shake and give baby.

How much does it cost every month? $0 for me.I qualified for wic so right now it doesn't cost me anything

How many different types did you have to try before finding one that worked for your baby?2.I started on Similac Advance and he done okay at first,then had some major gas problems and some other problems on it so we switched to soy-Similac Isomil Advance

Do you find it hard to go back to sleep at night after a feeding?No not usually.Only occasionally

Does your husband get up at night to feed baby? Not usually.He works and I don't so I decided that I would do the night feeds.He does help if I need it during the night and sometimes on weekends.

Do you try to get your baby to finish the bottle? No.I feed him until he is done and pushed it out or starts acting like he is finished.It would be pointless to try and make him eat more than he wants.

Do you have to throw away unused formula after every feeding?Not usually.Only occasionally here lately.He is teething and at times doesn't seem to be as hungry.

Anything else you would like to share?I think I kind of always knew I would formula feed my child from the moment that I found out I was pregnant.I do not see the need for everyone to be so (for lack of a better word) stupid about the whole thing.As long as you take care of your children & are feeding them,there shouldn't be a debate.Some people would rather breastfeed and some would rather formula feed.Either way,you aren't a better mom or a worse mom for either choice.I would support anyone and everyone on just about all the desicions they make for their children.I think that the people who get wound about about need to chill out on BOTH sides.Feed them how you want and leave everyone else alone..

Answer 26

I formula fed due to my illness.

It took seconds to make. I filled bottles in advance with distilled water and kept them in the cabinet, when the baby needed a bottle I added the powder and shook the bottle.

It's expensive. I think it was close to 300 bucks a month.

I used enfamil, then switched once to another with broken down proteins that were easier on his belly. Now he drinks whole milk as he is over a year old.

Nope, I'd have the bottle ready on the bedside table and added powder right before feeding, he'd drink and fall back asleep in my arms and I'd fall asleep too.

My husband did feed him too. he got up with him sometimes as i did. He loved to bond as well.

My baby always did finish on his own.

Never had to throw away,. he drank it all but is still a skinny guy!

My son is happy and healthy and had but one cold in his whole life!

Answer 27

I bf for 9 months, then weaned him to formula by 10-months.  

1.  Takes 1 minute for me to prepare.  Warm tap water, powder, shake.

2.  We spend amost $200 month these days.....YIKES (A $25 can lasts about 1 week, double that amount for daycare)

3.  We started with Similac Advance and have never switched as we have never had any problems with it

4.  I have never had a hard time going back to sleep

5.  Occasionally my hubby gets up, but only about 1 out of 10 times

6.  My baby finishes the bottle when he wants to, sometimes he only takes 2 oz and I never force him to take any more than he wants.  He has always been a small eater.

7.  I do throw away unused formula, but ususally don't have too much waste because I can usually predict how much he'll eat (based on time of last feeding, amt of last feeding, etc).

I don't regret changing from bf to formula, my son was weaning himself off the breast so it was not a "traumatic" experience for me, although I loved bf and will absolutely do so with my 2nd.   I do hate the cost.  Thank god i was able to bf for the first 9 months or I would have never had any money.  Needless to say, I'll be thrilled when 12 months comes along and we can switch to cow's milk. :)

Answer 28

If you use tap warm like I do, about 2 minutes to perpare. (dont use the mircowave!!!)

It depends on the formula but it cost about 50 dollars a month. (two large cans 25 dollars a piece without coupons, with u can get away with 10 dollars off) (I use enfamil with iron, you can buy the off brands, same thing, same ingrediants, that would cost about 25 dollars a month)

I used the one from the hospital.

No not at all.

I dont have a husband, but if I did, I would be sure he would help out.

The baby will eat what they baby wants to eat.

Sometimes you have to, if the baby eats 5ozs all the time, and one time isn't as hungry and eats 3 then you have to throw away 2ozs. It doesnt happen often for me.

I would have loved to breastfeed, but its very hard in my situation. Once I find a husband I will deff. breastfeed next time.

Bottle feeding isnt as bad for babies as people believe it to be, and a benifit of it is you dont usually have to get up every 2 hours to feed your little one.

Answer 29

I have a somewhat unique situation I think.  I had to return to work and after that my son went through nipple confusion.  I worked w/ lactation consultants and tried everything (I mean EVERYthing, lol) and nothing worked.  Instead of resorting to formula, I pumped and pumped and pumped until I got so sick of it that I couldn't take it anymore when he was 4 months old.  2  weeks later, I couldn't get over the guilt and started the re-lactation process.  I think I'm going to get to the point that I won't have to supplement anymore, he will be 6 months old in 4 days and my supply is still gradually increasing.  My point is.... right now, he's getting 90% breast milk and 10% formula.  

How long does it take to prepare?  A minute or so.  Much less than my other option (pumping) but I want to give him the best.

How much does it cost every month?  During the 2 weeks that he had formula only, I think we figured it would cost somewhere around $150/mo

How many different types did you have to try before finding one that worked for your baby?  One (luckily, that's rare).  He had formula the day he was born, before my milk came in, under the advice of the doctor.  That day we found out he did better with soy so I went right to that after weaning him to formula.  

Do you find it hard to go back to sleep at night after a feeding?  n/a, he loves his sleep and when he was waking at night I was BFing

Does your husband get up at night to feed baby?  n/a, same as above, no b/c he was breastfed at that time

Do you try to get your baby to finish the bottle? No, I take his cues

Do you have to throw away unused formula after every feeding?  I have before, yes

Anything else you would like to share?  Nope, just that I still hate pumping and hope others don't have to go through the same ordeal I've been through.  I wish more than anything that I could breastfeed.  

I don't see formula as a bad thing.  In fact, my oldest (3 1/2) was formula fed (but I can't remember all of the details from then to answer your question, lol).  

For me, I gave it 100% and didn't succeed so it bothers me that it didn't work out.

ETA:  I didn't answer this question to bash formula (obviously, since my oldest child had it).  I did so b/c you are a new contact and I wanted to give you a little history about me and answer the parts of your question that I could.  : )

Answer 30

*How long does it take to prepare?

That depends on how I prepared it.  After the first couple of months of trial and error making a bottle took less than a minute.  I would fill it with water, add the powder, shake, and done.  When he was still feeding at night I would premake the bottles that he would need for the night and keep them in a cooler next to my bed.  He drank cool formula with out any problems.  If he didn't, I would have kept bottles full of warm water in an insulator next to my bed so that all I would have needed to do was add the powder.

*How much does it cost every month?

We used Parent's Choice formula.  At his peak when he was drinking 36-40 ounces a day we went through about one can per week, which ended up being about $50/month.

*How many different types...

He never had any problems taking any type of formula, so we never had to experiment to find the right kind.

*Did I find it hard to go back to sleep at night after a feeding?

No, because I never ran up and down stairs, didn't do a whole lot of preparing at night, didn't rinse the bottles at night etc.  I was up enough to walk to the end of my bed to get him from his bed, feed him, and put him back to bed.

*Did my hubby get up at night to feed the baby?

For the first two months we would alternate who did the night feedings because I was pumping.  I hated being up for 10-15 minutes for a feed, then another 15-20 minutes of pumping.  Once I stopped pumping I took care of almost all of the night feeds.  I had a chance to nap during the day but my husband didn't.

*Did I try to get him to finish a bottle?

No, that's just silly.  You can't force a baby to eat.  I always thought that if he were breast feeding I wouldn't be able to  tell how much he was eating, so I just had to trust him.  If he didn't finish his bottle, that was fine.

*Do you have to throw away unused formula after every feeding?

Technically yes.  Once the formula has been in contact with the nipple and the baby's mouth it can start to breed bacteria.  In practice, if he didn't finish a couple of ounces I would just put it back in the fridge and give first at the next feed.

Answer 31

Good question. I breastfed my firstborn for 11 months and during that time I could never imagine why anyone would bottle feed. I recently had a baby and had to go back to work unfortunatly, and my 4 month old is now currently bottle fed. Both have advantages and disadvantages. It takes me about 3 minutes to prepare enough for 24 hours. Pour boiled wated, add powder, shake and go. It cost me about $25 per week, so $100 per month. I had to try 4 different formulas before I found the right one, however my daughter has a milk allergy so that is why I had to try so many. My daughter has a bottle before bed and sleeps all night long so that's a bonus. Because she sleeps all night my husband dosn't have to get up for feedings, but it's so nice that he can feed her through the day, gives me time to do other things. I only have to wake her up to finish the whole bottle when it's nap time, other wise she is pretty good about finishing it, and occassionally have to throw out formula, maybe once or twice a day, only usually one or two ounces. I would also like to say that I loved breastfeeding because of the closeness it gave my son and I. If I didn't have to go back to work I would have breast fed my daughter as well, but now that she is bottle fed I see why so many people love it as well. It gives you more freedom, and you still have a bond of feeding her, but my husband and son get to enjoy that bond as well. The only thing I hate is I feel like I am constantly washing bottles lol.